Silymarin: instructions for use, composition and reviews

For liver diseases and for the prophylactic purpose it is useful to take preparations containing silymarin. Instruction for the use of hepatoprotectors reports that this plant-derived substance protects the liver cells from harmful effects and strengthens the membranes. Silymarin is the name of the active ingredient, which is part of several types of tablets for liver protection. Medicines containing this medicinal substance are produced under different trade names.

Composition and effect of the preparation

Silymarin is an extract of milk thistle( milk thistle).This component enhances the production of hepatic proteins and enzymes, strengthens the membranes of hepatocytes and facilitates the removal of toxic substances from the body.

Survival of patients with cirrhosis of the liver is significantly increased due to the use of drugs with silymarin. The instructions for use also indicate that this substance can stop fatty and fibrotic changes.

Silymarin is a part of such hepatoprotectors a

s "Karsil", "Silymarin Hexal", "Silimar" and many others. These drugs are released in the form of tablets, capsules or dragees. Medicines have a similar hepatoprotective effect. At their appointment it is necessary to consider all indications and contraindications provided by the instruction on the use of silymarin. Prices, analogs and reviews about the drugs with this substance will be discussed in detail below.

Instructions for the use of silymarin provides for the taking of drugs with a preventive purpose. They can be used to prevent liver disease, but before that you should consult a doctor.

Contraindications

Hepatoprotectors with silymarin are not prescribed for children under 12 years of age. These drugs are contraindicated in the acute period of poisoning, and if there is an allergy to the active ingredient.

During pregnancy and lactation, these medicines are prescribed with caution. With gynecological and oncological pathologies( myome, endometriosis, uterine carcinoma, ovaries or prostate), hepatoprotectors are taken under strict doctor control in a reduced dosage.

Undesirable effects of

In some patients, preparations with silymarin can provoke unwanted symptoms. During the therapy, there may be dyspeptic phenomena, allergies, hair loss, shortness of breath, dizziness, frequent urination.

These side effects are very rare. Typically, these drugs are well tolerated if the patient takes the pill according to the doctor's instructions and instructions for using silymarin. The price of some drugs( "Silymarin Hexal", "Silimar") is low. You can choose an inexpensive remedy for liver disease, which in this case will be quite safe.

There were no cases of drug overdose in medical practice. If the patient has exceeded the recommended dose, you should wash the stomach and take enterosorbent.

How to take the drug

Instructions for use "Silymarin Hexal" recommends taking the drug 1 capsule( 172 mg) three times a day. When the condition improves, the frequency of reception is reduced to 2 times. This scheme of treatment is prescribed in severe liver pathologies.

For lighter diseases, appoint 1 capsule 2 times a day. For the prevention of liver damage take 1-2 capsules per day.

In pharmacies, you can find other drugs with silymarin. Instructions for the use of each medicine should be carefully studied. The required dosage may differ depending on the trade name of the preparation and its form of release. The exact number of tablets or capsules can be determined only by the attending physician. Different types of hepatoprotectors with silymarin differ in the quantitative content of the active component.

To achieve a therapeutic effect, it is necessary to take the drugs for about 2-3 months.

Special instructions

Treatment with hepatoprotectors with silymarin will be effective only if during the therapy the patient adheres to a diet and completely refuses alcohol. At treatment at some patients jaundice signs are shown. In this case, immediately consult a doctor.

Silymarin can act on the body like female hormones - estrogens. For this reason, patients who have breast, ovarian and uterus tumors, the drug is administered with great care. Otherwise, the active component of the hepatoprotector can provoke the growth of malignant and benign neoplasms.

In some patients, silymarin can cause disorders of the vestibular apparatus, expressed in dizziness and slight disruption in coordination of movements. Therefore, during therapy, you should stop driving the car.

Interaction with other medications

The instruction on the use of silymarin informs that this substance can interact with other medicines. During therapy, use caution when taking the following drugs:

Hormonal birth control pills. Silymarin may reduce their effectiveness.

Tranquilizer "Alprazolam" and antifungal agent "Ketoconazole".Hepatoprotectors with silymarin can increase the toxicity of these drugs.

Medications from the group of statins "Lovastatin" and "Vinblastine" and a sedative drug "Diazepam".Silymarin potentiates the effect of these agents.

Storage, analogues and prices

Preparations with silymarin should be stored at a temperature of not more than +25 degrees. Tablets remain valid for 2 years, and capsules can be used for 5 years.

In pharmacy chains, you can find the following drugs to protect the liver from extracts of milk thistle spotted:

"Karsil".

Karsil Forte

Silymarin

Silymarin Hexal

Silimar

Legalon

Silibor

These preparations have a similar pharmacological action as described in the instruction manual for the use of silymarin.50 to 700.

"Karsil" and "Karsil Forte" are quite expensive preparations, they are available in the form of a tablet( 35 mg of silymarin), or capsules( 90 mg). In pharmacy chains, the cost of "Karsila" ranges from 300 to 700 rubles, and "Karsila Forte" from 300 to 350 rubles. Before using the drug, you need to study the instructionon the use of silymarin. Reviews on the price and effectiveness of the drug show that, despite the high cost, this medicine does not exceed the effectiveness of other products with the extract of milk thistle. In the form of capsules, the drug "Legalon." Its price is from 250 to 500 rubles, independing on the content of the active ingredient( 70 or 140 mg).

A costly drug is Silibor. It is available in the form of 35 mg or 70 mg tablets. Its price ranges from 1000 to 1100 rubles. Capsules "Silymarin"( 172 mg) cost about 1500 rubles.

Indications for the use of the drug "Silymarin Hexal" are the same as for other hepatoprotectors with extract of milk thistle spotted. The medicine protects and restores hepatocytes. The medication is released in the form of capsules that contain more active substance than all other analogues. This is reported by the instruction for the use of "Silymarin Hexal".The price of the medicine is about 150 rubles.

The drug "Silimar" costs from 90 to 140 rubles. It is released in the form of tablets that contain a small amount of silymarin( 10 mg).

It can be concluded that the drugs "Silymarin Hexal" and "Silimar" are the most economical option. In addition, in pharmacies you can find the drug "Thistle" in the form of capsules containing the oil of this plant. Their price is from 35 to 70 rubles.

Reviews of hepatoprotectors

On the Net, you can find many positive reviews about hepatoprotectors with silymarin. These drugs helped patients to get rid of jaundice, dyspeptic symptoms, severity and discomfort in the liver. Patients note that they have improved the function of excretion of bile and blood biochemistry.

There are also negative reviews about hepatoprotectors with silymarin. Some patients believe that with severe liver damage, such drugs help little, it takes too long to take medication( 6 to 8 months).

In this case, patients note the safety and good tolerability of drugs with milk thistle in comparison with other hepatoprotectors. Medicines with plant extract are much less likely to cause side effects than Essentiale and other agents with phospholipids. There are almost no reports of adverse events, only anemia was observed in some patients with hypersensitivity. In such cases it is necessary to consult a doctor about the replacement of the hepatoprotector.